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Ports Handle Trade. But They Can’t Handle a Breach –
Maritime ports manage over 80% of global trade. They are also integral to NATO’s military logistics. They are critical infrastructure. But they are not ready for cyber war. NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) says ports face “unprecedented cybersecurity threats.” The actors? Russia, China, and Iran.
The CCDCOE’s July 2025 policy brief paints a grim picture. It states, “Nearly all surveyed countries experienced cyberattacks in the past five years.” These aren’t isolated incidents. They’re patterns of aggression.
Ports Are Key. That’s Why They’re Targets.
The NotPetya malware attack of 2017 demonstrated the consequences of connecting operational technology (OT) without proper safeguards. Maersk lost $300 million. Rotterdam and Los Angeles ports were paralyzed. That was a preview. Now, cybercriminals and hostile states are better, faster, and bolder.
The CCDCOE warns, “Traditional risks still exist, but digital transformation has introduced new vulnerabilities.” OT systems were not made for the internet. Now they’re online—and exposed.
Cyber Insurance Isn’t a Luxury
In previous reporting, we highlighted that one-quarter of maritime companies still lack cyber insurance. And yet, the average cyberattack now costs $550,000. Ransom payments hit $3.2 million.
Daniel Ng of CyberOwl says, “The good news is we’ve moved past ‘why’ and onto ‘how’ when it comes to defense.” But the silence between companies remains deafening. Nick Chubb of Thetius adds, “The cost of inaction is no longer theoretical.”
“Nearly all surveyed countries experienced cyberattacks in the past five years.”
NATO Policy Brief Addressing State-Linked Cyber Threats to Critical Maritime Port Infrastructure
Hackers Know the Blueprint
State-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), such as Russia’s Fancy Bear and Iran’s MuddyWater, have targeted ports with their malware. Their targets? Israel, Egypt, Germany, and the UK, among others. Cyber espionage is evolving into sabotage.
China, too, has entered the game. In April 2024, Cisco Talos identified a campaign called “ArcaneDoor.” The malware targeted financial and maritime networks globally. The goal? Positioning for disruption.
Watch Our Podcast – Cyber Risk in 2026 – There is much to know
Ports Are Highways for Data and Invasion
The NATO report says ports are now nodes in both trade and national defense. That dual role increases their value and their vulnerability. As CCDCOE puts it, “Commercial port infrastructure remains under civilian control while serving essential military logistics functions.”
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The convergence of IT and OT increases complexity. It also introduces new “threat vectors,” including infected USBs and phishing-laced emails. The attack surface is wider than ever.
Ransomware Hits Fuel Supply Chaos
In 2022, ransomware attacks targeted 17 major oil terminals in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Investigations tied them to state-linked gangs like BlackCat and Conti. Supply chains broke down. Oil deliveries rerouted. European prosecutors couldn’t even confirm who was responsible—attribution is murky in cyberspace.
Hacktivists Add Fuel to the Fire
Cyber activism isn’t just memes and defaced websites anymore. Groups like NoName057 use DDoS attacks to knock out port websites. The Port of Rotterdam, Gdynia, and even the UK’s Port of Tyne were hit in coordinated campaigns. These aren’t pranks. They’re cyber weapons.
Existing Maritime Cybersecurity Strategy Is Outdated
NATO’s current Alliance Maritime Strategy was written in 2011. It’s showing its age. It doesn’t account for hybrid threats, which are attacks that combine digital infiltration with physical disruption. There are no formal rules for working with commercial port operators. That must change.
CCDCOE Recommendations
The brief offers several steps forward:
- Update NATO’s Maritime Strategy to include cyber threats.
- Create threat intelligence-sharing networks among ports.
- Appoint NATO liaison officers for port cybersecurity.
- Form international working groups under the auspices of the IMO.
- Integrate exercises like Locked Shields into national port security protocols.
TL;DR
Ports are digital battlegrounds. NATO’s CCDCOE says state actors and cyber gangs are exploiting outdated systems and weak defenses. There’s no time left to wait. Cyberattacks aren’t future threats—they’re current events.
The oceans may be vast, but in cyberspace, no vessel is too small to target.
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